7 Feb 2017, Singapore – Local jewellery design firm, Sea of Stars Crystals and Jewellery, a firm that provides natural gemstones and handmade silver and stainless steel jewellery to local retailers, has decided to change its business direction and enter the book market as a publisher.
After 8 years in the gemstone and jewellery trade, the local design firm has in January converted its business to book publishing. In part to fulfill the lifelong goal of owner, Tabitha Tan Yueh Li, 42, and to expand the business of the company.
Seizing the opportunity provided from having written an academic thesis in early 2011, Tabitha Tan began to explore book publishing. Even though she initially published her thesis with German publisher, LAP Lambert, she eventually decided to take over publishing her own work because LAP Lambert was not able to provide her thesis with the publicity that she wanted and did not pay any loyalties initially agreed upon and did not update her on book sales. As of beginning February 2017, LAP Lambert has apparently withdrawn “War of Nerves” from Amazon.com. After Tabitha repeatedly informed the publisher of her desire to send her work to a local publisher.
“It’s just not right,” She said of LAP Lambert, regarding the lack of information about book sales.
Eventually, encouraged by fellow entrepreneur, Mr. Ibrahim Tahir of Wardah Books, she finally issued the German publisher with an ultimatum and republished the second edition of “War of Nerves”. In spite of the lack of communication, LAP Lambert gave up all claim to the work by withdrawing the previous edition and all parts of it, kindle and paperback versions, from Amazon.
“I am so glad it has turned out like this,” she said with much relief, glad to not have to fight the copyright in a court of law.
“War of Nerves” a thesis written to fulfill the criteria for earning a Masters of Science in Strategic Studies at the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University(NTU) has finally come home to the rightful hands of Singaporeans. Where Tabitha hopes it will finally get the recognition that it deserves.
Sea of Stars Publishing 